The hospitality industry is banking on the domestic market to continue supporting the sector, with optimism of good business over the next weekend’s Easter holidays.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) projects a 10 percent increase in bed occupancy of the domestic market, with Nairobi a key source.
KTB attributes the expected increase to the ongoing domestic tourism campaign dubbed ‘you deserve a holiday’, that brings together private players promoting domestic travel packages.
The past six months has seen a team of over 20 trade partners, comprising tour operators, hoteliers and travel agents and airlines, visiting various counties and corporate organisations to bring holiday offers at their doorsteps.
Since its inception, the campaign has seen many organisations including golf clubs, malls, and churches in Machakos, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru and Laikipia being engaged.
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The Laikipia phase saw significant participation, with KTB and the travel trade engaging in various activations around malls, golf clubs and churches, including visits to various attractions such as the Olpajeta conservancy and the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, which is a popular draw for tourists in the region.
The campaign aims to address the challenges that the tourism industry has faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, through providing platforms to connect and interact with potential travelers in Kenya.
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The tourism ministry had last month projected a stronger performance this year, after a rebound on international arrivals, which grew by 70.5 percent to 1.5 million visitors, up from 0.9 million the previous year.
The Tourism Research Institute (TRI) report attributes the growth to the reopening of the economy and accommodation facilities, which were temporarily closed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, TRI has projected international arrivals will hit a record 2.3 million with an estimated revenue of Kshs 425.4 billion, up from Kshs 268.1 billion last year.
